GDP growth in Sub-Saharan Africa last year hit 4.4%, with a third of the countries in the region growing at a robust 6% annual rate. Many analysts believe this helps sets the stage for long-term growth, underpinned by a growing middle class and rising foreign investment. That, in turn, is helping to grow the services sector while reducing dependence on natural resources. Accompanying this growth is a pickup in private equity activity (PE), which offers more promise for economic development. To learn more about that, Knowledge at Wharton spoke with three PE experts in this first part of a two-part podcast:

Michelle Kathryn Essomé, chief executive of the African Venture Capital Association (AVCA);

Michael Rogers, global deputy sector leader for private equity at EY; and

Stephen M. Sammut, senior fellow and lecturer at Wharton.

View Private Equity Steps Up in Africa – Part II